In a twist of timing heavy with emotional weight, Christian Hayes found a bittersweet solace as the man accused of ending his father's life in a road rage incident was arrested just before Christmas Eve. According to KSL, Hayes described the arrest of 62-year-old Greg Kyle DeBoer, stating, "The hardest thing is he's not coming back. My dad's gone, that's kind of the fact of everything, and that's terrible. But at least, you know, this guy's hopefully going to pay for what he did."
DeBoer was detained on suspicion of obstruction of justice, KSL reported. During this investigation phase, DeBoer not only allegedly admitted to the shooting but also attempted to conceal the weapon, a .45 caliber Kimber 1911. Charged with seeking to forever erase evidence of his deed, DeBoer stands accused of burying the gun near his home. As detailed by KPCW, which also recounted that DeBoer had reported the fatal incident as an act of self-defense after an earlier detainment by investigators in November.
The incident occurred on September 25 at Jordanelle State Park, where Patrick Hayes, a former NCAA All-American swimmer and beloved mentor, met his untimely end. As KSLTV reports, the loss of Patrick Hayes has been a profound one, not only to his family but also to the community he engaged and uplifted.
Hayes' fiancée, Sue Ann Kern, was quoted by KPCW, describing the deep relief she felt upon DeBoer's arrest: "It was absolutely heart-wrenching to think that he was about to spend another holiday with his family and friends while we still had a missing seat at our table." DeBoer is being held without bail and, per the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office, is to soon potentially face legal prosecution, though no formal charges in connection to the fatal shooting have been set as of today.
Investigators relied on camera footage and cell tower data to pinpoint DeBoer, who, on the evening of the tragedy, appeared to have an altercation with Hayes that ended fatally. Events suggest that Hayes may have approached the vehicle wielded by DeBoer with a metal baton and a pocketknife. Currently, the family is expected to meet with prosecutors and officers on December 26th, as they look to navigate the wake of the tragedy and understand the full scope of that September night's actions. In Hayes' words, shared by KSL, this period remains a grave chapter, where justice is but a faint consolation to the irreversible loss of his father. "In a weird way though, it's almost poetic. This guy was caught yesterday, you know, and so he's not at home for Christmas Eve."
